Tony Johnson Wrote:
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> Prior to 1939 West Oakland Tower was callaed Cedar
> Street Tower on account the original mainline into
> West Oakland Yard crossed in front of it and what
> later became the West Oakland Diesel Shop.

For clarity's sake, it's West Oakland Interlock not West Oakland Tower. West Oakland Tower was (and still is) the yardmaster's tower in the West Oakland Yard, although nowadays it's often shortened to being called Oakland Tower or just Oakland. In SP days, the yardmaster's tower was most commonly known by employees as the Glass House. The station location for "West Oakland" was in the telegraph office that was located less than 50 yards from the yardmaster's tower. And, yes, UP has big plans (and has had 'em for going on a decade now) to demolish the tower, move the yardmasters (one on each of the three tricks) to a building at ground level, and install cameras to help them observe what's happening (also useful for managers). Gonna happen any day now . . .

A few of the things in the photo still exist. The tracks where the units are are still there, although the ones in the foreground are gone, as is the tower itself. The flag pole's still there, too. The 8790 bit the dust in the big U33C purge of 1986.